Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-24
BELLIcosE coNGREssssrr
Memorial Scene in the House x..,,-
Thirty Years Aro.

Soene IN the House Issri,
Thirty Years Ago.
From Ben; Perley Poore's Recollection,
The scrimmage in the House q Rsr
resentatives early on Saturday mo,n;na
February 0, 1858, was an exciting afa;,
as seen from the reporters gallery u
was inaugurated by Keitt, Of soutb |
Carolina, who rushed belligerently a.
Grow of Pennsylvania, when he y.
ceived-not from Grow, however,.
blow that knocked him down. do,
en- Southern men at once left tbs,
seats and rushed to the spot while /.
many anti-Lecompton men came to ths
rescue. Foremost came Mr.. Potter
of Wisconsin, very athletic. com.
pact man who bounded into tbs
center Of the excited group, strik.
ing right and left with tremendous yp.
or. Washburne, of Illinois, and ii,
brother of Wisconsin, also were promj.
nent, and for minute or two it seemed
as though we were to have Kilkenny
fight on magnificent scale. Barks.
dale had hold of Grow, when Potter
struck him severe blow, supposinp
that he was hurting that gentleman.
Barksdale, turning around and sup.
posing it was Elinu Washburne who
struck him, dropped Grow and struck
out at the gentleman from Illinois.
Cadwallader Washburne, perceivingt the
attack upon his brother, also made
dash at Mr. Barksdale, and seized him
by the hair, apparently for the purpose
of drawing him "into chancery' and
pummelling him to greater satisfaction.
Horrible to relate, Mr.. Barksdale's wig
came off in Cadwallader's left hand, and
his right fist expended itself with tremen-
dous force against the unresisting air.
This ludicrous incident unquestion-
ably did much toward restoring good
nature subsequently, and its effect was
heightened not little by the fact that
in the excitement of the occasion Banks.
dale restored his wig wrong side fore
most.
The Speaker yelled and raped for
order, without effect. The Sergeant-at
Arms stalked to the scene of battle,
mace in hand, but his American eagle"
had no more effect than the Speakers
gravel. Owen Lovejoy and Lamar, Of
Mississippi, were paving each other at
one point-each probably trying TO
persuade the other to be still. Mr..
Mott, the gray baired Quaker Repre-
sentative from Ohio, was seen going
here and there in the crowd DAVIS,
of Mississippi, got q severe, but acci-
dental, blow from Mr.. Grow, and varl-
GUS gentleman sustained slight bruises
and scratches. A Virginia Representa-,
tive, who thought Montgomery. o.
PENNSYLVANIA, was about to "pltcn
in" laid his hand upon his arm
to restrain him, and was perempto,,
rily ordered to desist or be knocked
down. Mr.. Covode, of Pennsylvania
caught up heavy stoneware splttooh,
with which TO "brain" whoever mign a
seem to deserve it, but, fortunately da
not get far enough into the ex',lteu
crowd to find an appropriate subleG;1 lOi
his vengeance, and all over the hall e''
erybody was excited for the time -,
Fortunately, it did not last long, anu
no weapons were openly displays"
When order was restored, several gen
tlemen were found to present an eAces'
sively tumbled and disordered appear
ance. but there remained little else 'oie
call the excitement. Gentlemen OF op-
posite parties crossed over to eacn pune
to explain their pacific dispositions IONS
and that they got intoa hgh1 Sm'l 4
their only purpose was to preVeaa' :
fight. Mutual explanations anu u
hearty laugh at the ludlcrous sue nd ia q
the drama were followed by quiet anu
return to business.